The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) has reaffirmed that the nationwide strike by all clinical officers, set to begin on Sunday, will proceed as planned.
KUCO had previously issued a 14-day strike notice, which will expire on January 19, due to alleged discrimination by the Social Health Authority (SHA) and unmet terms in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
KUCO Secretary General George Gibore explained that SHA had denied clinical officers’ facilities their contractual right to treat patients registered under the authority. He further stated that SHA had failed to authorize them to provide healthcare services to patients, preventing clinical officers from offering pre-authorization for these services.
“The authority is enforcing non-existent regulations that require facilities owned by clinical officers to seek additional registration with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) before they can treat patients,” he said.
Addressing clinical officers in Embu on Friday at Embu Level Five Hospital, Gibore warned that this move would hinder service delivery and block thousands of patients from accessing healthcare.
KUCO National Trustee Moses Baiyenia accused cartels within the KMPDC of taking control of SHA and blocking healthcare providers, other than doctors, from offering services through the authority. He criticized these groups for undermining the President’s efforts and called for the dismissal of Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa.
Regarding the CBA, Gibore pointed out that many counties had failed to promote clinical officers or transition contract staff into permanent positions, violating the terms agreed upon last year and filed in court.
“We have been traveling across the country to inform our members and prepare them for the strike, which is a result of the government’s failure to address these issues,” he said. He emphasized that the strike was a necessary response due to the lack of action from the government.
Embu Branch Secretary James Nyaga confirmed the commitment of their members to participate in the strike in solidarity with colleagues nationwide.
